Hubble Image of M101

Stsci_2009-07m_1024

stsci_2009-07m February 10th, 2009

Credit: NASA, ESA, K. Kuntz (JHU), F. Bresolin (University of Hawaii), J. Trauger (Jet Propulsion Lab), J. Mould (NOAO), Y.-H. Chu (University of Illinois, Urbana), and STScI

Messier 101 has a pancake-like shape that we view face-on. This perspective shows off the spiral structure that gives it the nickname the Pinwheel Galaxy. In this Hubble image, taken in visible light, the bright blue clumps are regions where new stars have formed. The yellowish core consists mainly of old stars. The dark brown dust lanes are colder and denser regions where interstellar clouds may collapse to form new stars. All of these features are shaped into a beautiful spiral pattern by a combination of gravity and rotation. Astronomers use visible light to study where and how stars form in spiral galaxies.

Provider: Space Telescope Science Institute

Image Source: https://hubblesite.org/contents/news-releases/2009/news-2009-07

Curator: STScI, Baltimore, MD, USA

Image Use Policy: http://hubblesite.org/copyright/

Image Details Image Details

Image Type
Observation
Object Name
M101 NGC 4547 The Pinwheel Galaxy
Subject - Local Universe
Galaxy > Type > Spiral

Distance Details Distance

Universescale2
21,800,000 light years
Stsci_2009-07m_128
 

Position Details Position Details

Position (ICRS)
RA = 14h 3m 2.5s
DEC = 54° 20’ 25.2”
Orientation
North is 54.7° CW
Field of View
3.5 x 3.2 arcminutes
Constellation
Ursa Major

Color Mapping Details Color Mapping

  Telescope Spectral Band Wavelength
Grayscale Hubble (ACS/WFPC2) Optical (B) 435.0 nm
Grayscale Hubble (ACS/WFPC2) Optical (V) 555.0 nm
Grayscale Hubble (ACS/WFPC2) Optical (I) 814.0 nm
Spectrum_base
Grayscale
Grayscale
Grayscale
Stsci_2009-07m_1280
×
ID
2009-07m
Subject Category
C.5.1.1  
Subject Name
M101, NGC 4547, The Pinwheel Galaxy
Credits
NASA, ESA, K. Kuntz (JHU), F. Bresolin (University of Hawaii), J. Trauger (Jet Propulsion Lab), J. Mould (NOAO), Y.-H. Chu (University of Illinois, Urbana), and STScI
Release Date
2009-02-10T00:00:00
Lightyears
21,800,000
Redshift
21,800,000
Reference Url
https://hubblesite.org/contents/news-releases/2009/news-2009-07
Type
Observation
Image Quality
Good
Distance Notes
Facility
Hubble, Hubble, Hubble
Instrument
ACS/WFPC2, ACS/WFPC2, ACS/WFPC2
Color Assignment
Grayscale, Grayscale, Grayscale
Band
Optical, Optical, Optical
Bandpass
B, V, I
Central Wavelength
435, 555, 814
Start Time
Integration Time
Dataset ID
Notes
Coordinate Frame
ICRS
Equinox
Reference Value
210.76050104577, 54.34032252248
Reference Dimension
4241.00, 3794.00
Reference Pixel
2892.37259707030, 909.18828751470
Scale
-0.00001386020, 0.00001386020
Rotation
-54.70459296480
Coordinate System Projection:
TAN
Quality
Full
FITS Header
Notes
World Coordinate System resolved using PinpointWCS 0.9.2 revision 218+ by the Chandra X-ray Center FITS X FITS Y EPO X EPO Y 545.54 886.27 2716.52 1094.54 676.47 825.21 2966.72 1238.50 731.06 924.97 2866.76 1443.36 817.98 721.69 3295.02 1352.30 Center Pixel Coordinates: 2120.50 210.79033525218 1897.00 54.33938195188
Creator (Curator)
STScI
URL
http://hubblesite.org
Name
Space Telescope Science Institute Office of Public Outreach
Email
outreach@stsci.edu
Telephone
410-338-4444
Address
3700 San Martin Drive
City
Baltimore
State/Province
MD
Postal Code
21218
Country
USA
Rights
http://hubblesite.org/copyright/
Publisher
STScI
Publisher ID
stsci
Resource ID
STSCI-H-p0907m-f-4241x3794.tif
Metadata Date
2022-07-06T00:00:00
Metadata Version
1.2
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Detailed color mapping information coming soon...

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Universescalefull
21,800,000 light years

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